News from around california

OYSTER FARM TO ASK US SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CASE: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The owner of a popular Northern California oyster farm says he'll ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his case challenging a federal decision not to renew the facility's lease.

Kevin Lunny, owner of Drakes Bay Oyster Co., made the announcement Tuesday after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it wouldn't reconsider his case.

The oyster company in the Point Reyes National Seashore has remained open since former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in 2012 refused to renew its lease. Salazar cited a 1976 congressional decision to return the waters of Drakes Estero to wilderness status.

The farm has since lost all of its appeals to overturn that decision.

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QUAKE SHAKES AREA EAST OF LOS ANGELES: FONTANA (AP) — A magnitude-4.4 earthquake jolted the inland region about 50 miles east of Los Angeles early Wednesday, but no significant damage or injuries were reported.

The quake occurred at 1:35 a.m. and was centered 3 miles north of the San Bernardino County city of Fontana at a depth of 2 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said. A series of very small aftershocks followed.

Some businesses had merchandise fall from shelves, according to TV news reports.

Off-duty county firefighter Eric Sherwin was awakened by the quake.

Most residents posting to the USGS community Internet intensity map reported the quake felt light to weak. Some residents of Fontana and San Bernardino reported the shaking as moderate.

BOY DIED FROM DRINKING METH AT BORDER CROSSING: SAN DIEGO (AP) — An autopsy report says a 16-year-old Mexican boy died after drinking highly concentrated liquid methamphetamine at a San Diego border crossing in an attempt to convince inspectors that it was only apple juice.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner says in its findings released Wednesday that Cruz Marcelino Velazquez volunteered to take a big sip Nov. 18 at the San Ysidro port of entry. He was handcuffed and placed in a cell, then began screaming in pain.

The autopsy faults one border inspector for trying to test the drug by spilling a capful on the counter and smelling it.

Andrew Michael Nisbet, of Livermore, did not enter plea Wednesday in Alameda County Superior Court after he was charged with the 75 felonies, including lewd acts with a child and oral copulation of a child.

Charges against the 31-year-old Nisbet mostly stem from allegedly sexually assaulting three boys between the ages of 12 and 17 from 2009 to 2012.

Nisbet was arrested at the Las Positas Golf Course in Livermore on Dec. 7, one day before he was to be honored with the 2013 Northern California PGA Junior Golf Leader Award for his work with young golfers.